Animated Rogue One Shorts Makes Toys from the Movie Do Silly Things

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“This video uses special effects. The toys cannot move or talk on their own.” Thanks for the clarification. That’s from the description for Go Rogue One, a tongue-in-cheek stop-motion micro series offering ever-so-tantalizing peeks of toys, figurines, and other models based on that “Star Wars film.” The merch, of course, won’t be available until Force Friday at the end of September, so these shorts are a delightful preview of both the toyline and the movie.

The episodes might seem like Robot Chicken sketches, but LucasFilm is keen to stress that they’re fan films. The aim is to not only elicit chuckles, but to also inspire some further “remix culture” creativity prior to the global “Go Rogue” video contest, which also starts on Force Friday. Fans can submit their own shorts for a chance to win tickets to a Rogue One screening at LucasFilm (where their fan film will also be shown).

Seriously, though, while this series goofs on Jyn Erso’s doomed efforts to steal the Death Star plans with rapidfire pop culture nods and LEGO Movie-esque humor, it actually offers some rather meaty details about Rogue One‘s plot. Curious about the circumstances bringing Erso’s motley crew together? Or her relationship with Diego Luna’s character? What about the conflicted back-story of Alan Tudyk’s droid? These episodes actually reveal a bit more about all that than the trailers have covered, so far.

In between, of course, the jokes about LEGO construction manuals, the size differences of Stormtrooper figurines, and how Funko can make even evil Imperial generals look so cuddly. Watch on.

Did these shorts make you smile? Did they give away too much? Which Rogue One toys do you want to get your hands on first? Hit the talkback below.